"Whew—" Jean took a deep breath, forcing down the anger simmering in her chest.
"I hope your nation's diplomats can act a little more professionally! You want to deal with one of Mondstadt's Four Winds? I don't appreciate anyone making such outrageous statements in front of the Knights of Favonius!"
"Are they about to start fighting?" Paimon whispered, eyes wide, as she watched the tense exchange between Jean and the diplomat.
"These Fatui people are so infuriating!" Amber muttered, clearly just as indignant after hearing the diplomat's aggressive words.
But with diplomatic negotiations underway, she didn't dare butt in recklessly.
The talks soon ended, both sides parting on a sour note.
Jean noticed their return. "You're back."
Her gaze landed on Aether and Jiang Bai. "Thank you so much for your help. The elemental flow around the city is finally stabilized. The aftermath of Stormterror's assault has finally settled, for now..."
"No need to thank us."
"Jean, just now—" Amber hesitated, wanting to say something.
Jean shook her head. "It was just the delegation trying to pressure us."
"Delegation? Amber said those people were from Snezhnaya," Aether asked curiously, clueless about the world's politics.
"Yes, they're a Fatui diplomatic mission from Snezhnaya. They want to kill Stormterror, but I don't believe that's the right course of action. The Fatui covet the power granted by the Anemo Archon—this whole thing is highly suspicious."
"Speaking of power, there's something I'd like the Knights to take a look at."
Aether remembered the crystal he'd picked up after encountering Stormterror in the forest.
It seemed to contain a strange, unique energy.
"We should head back to Knights Headquarters. This isn't the place to talk."
Right now, they were standing outside the Goth Grand Hotel, where people bustled past constantly—a terrible place for sensitive conversations.
Jiang Bai's gaze lingered on Aether, just as curious about what he was about to reveal.
Jean looked at Jiang Bai and Klee. If they were to discuss anything important, it would be best to keep outsiders out—especially those from other nations.
"Klee, why don't you let Big Brother Jiang Bai take you out to play for a while? Now that Stormterror's attacks have subsided, it's fine to leave the city."
She turned to Amber, "Amber, continue your patrols outside the city. Report back immediately if you notice anything unusual!"
"Understood!" Amber snapped to attention and dashed off.
Jiang Bai really didn't want to leave at this moment!
Things were just getting interesting—if he left now, he'd completely miss what would happen next!
How would the Knights handle Stormterror? What would become of the dragon? And what exactly was that thing Aether wanted to show them? He was dying to know!
Jiang Bai glanced at Klee.
Whether or not he could stay for the rest all depended on her.
Klee looked up at Jiang Bai, then seemed to get an idea.
She clung to the hem of Jean's skirt. "Master Jean! Klee doesn't want to go play right now! Klee promised to apologize to the big dragon!"
"Big dragon? Apologize?" For a moment, Jean couldn't figure out what she meant.
Jiang Bai quickly explained, "We heard about Stormterror from Kaeya. Since people have been calling the East Wind Dragon a monster by mistake, Klee wants to apologize to Stormterror."
"Oh, I see…" Jean's expression softened as she ruffled Klee's hair.
"You're so thoughtful, Klee. Since you don't want to play, you can help us instead."
"Mm-hmm! Klee wants to help!"
When they arrived at Jean's office, Lisa was already waiting inside.
Aether took out the crystal he'd found.
It looked the same as before—deep crimson, almost inky, and radiating an ominous aura.
"It's a crystal containing some kind of power… Lisa, can you analyze its composition?" Jean asked.
Lisa, Mondstadt's librarian, was far more than that—a genius rarely seen even among the Sumeru Akademiya's best.
Since returning from the Akademiya, she'd taken up the librarian post.
There was no doubt about her research and academic abilities. In Mondstadt, only Albedo could compare when it came to concrete analysis.
"Let me take a look."
Lisa observed the floating crystal intently for a long while, then finally spoke. "There are some impure contaminants inside the crystal, but I'll need more time to conduct a detailed study."
"Give me a moment, I'll check the restricted section for references…" Lisa tried to take the crystal.
The moment it got close, though, a sharp pain shot through her body. She quickly pushed it away.
Still, the reaction gave her a lot of useful information.
"The impurities in that crystal—just being near it causes me pain… So that's how it is…"
Jiang Bai sensed that she'd realized something. He tried approaching the crystal himself, but nothing happened.
No pain, no strange reaction—absolutely nothing.
"What did you discover?" Everyone looked to Lisa.
"That corrupting force inside the crystal clashes and repels our elemental energy—entangling and trying to destroy it. But it's strange…" Lisa glanced at Aether, who'd been carrying the crystal all along, curiosity in her eyes.
"Aether can use elemental powers too, but he isn't affected by it."
Aether himself wasn't sure why. Maybe it had something to do with her unique nature.
Jiang Bai looked from Aether to himself, then lowered his head in thought.
"You'd better keep the crystal for now," Lisa said, sliding it back toward Aether. "It only brings us pain to hold onto it."
Aether nodded, ready to put it away.
"It's truly a mysterious phenomenon. Do you have any idea about your own peculiar traits?" Jean asked.
Aether could guess, but he still shook his head.
Seeing this, Jean didn't press her further.
Her expression turned solemn as she looked at Aether.
"Aether, this is the second time the Knights must make an unreasonable request of you…"
Aether stared at her, puzzled.
Jean continued, "Please accept the title of Honorary Knight from the Knights of Favonius, as well as my personal thanks as Acting Grand Master."
Jiang Bai, who'd been spacing out, suddenly snapped to attention. Honorary Knight?
Just like that?
But then again, after all Aether had done to drive off Stormterror, it probably wasn't so easy after all…
"And you too, Jiang Bai—thank you for all your help," Jean added.
"I believe anyone would have stepped up at a time like this," Jiang Bai replied, putting on his most righteous air.
He didn't embarrass himself by asking whether he'd get the title, too—after all, he'd just been tagging along, not actually doing much.
"Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius!" Paimon's eyes went wide in amazement, then sparkled with excitement.
This was an honor bestowed by the Acting Grand Master herself!
With this, they could practically walk sideways through Mondstadt!
Jean looked at everyone again, issuing another invitation:
"I hope you'll continue to help us uncover the truth behind all these mysteries. Stormterror's rampage, these strange crystals—I believe the answers must be tied to the peace of Mondstadt itself…"
---
That's the end of the chapters. Translator worked hard on this one… and also asked me to deliver a little message on her behalf. She said it herself: she's shameless enough to ask.
So—if you'd like to support her, you can do so at patreon.com/wisetl. It's completely optional, meant only for support, though it comes with the bonus of reading a little ahead.
And then there's the Powerstone system: every 100 Stones = 1 bonus chapter. 100ps = 1, 200ps = 2, 300ps = 3… you get the picture.
She's the shameless one for asking, but I don't think there's anything wrong with it. After all… if no one speaks up, no one gets heard.
—Hanekawa Tsubasa